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Re: 1 Yr check up. Need advice

Is this a Hb test for iron? Personally, I would do the follow up blood draw. Anemia (iron deficiency) can occur in breastfed babies, and it's easily enough addressed. There isn't a lot of iron in breastmilk. I'm no expert, but understand most children have enough iron reserves at birth to get them through their first year, but for various reasons, some children don't. A simple blood draw would resolve the issue. I also think that anything under 10 is considered low - a pregnant woman with 9.7 is told to supplement with iron. Again, I don't know exactly how it works, but I would probably follow up, just me.

You can call me JoMo!

Mom to baby boy Joe, born 5/4/09 and breastfed for more than two and a half years, and baby girl Maggie, born 7/9/12.

Re: 1 Yr check up. Need advice

My personal stance is that I would not do the blood draw, but would proceed as if my child were slightly anemic. So, feeding lots of iron rich foods, foods cooked in cast iron, etc. And vitamin C to help the iron be absorbed better. And maybe at the next appointment, you can request another finger stick to recheck.

Re: 1 Yr check up. Need advice

I like the idea of not getting the blood drawn but treating her as if she were anemic. 9.7 doesn't sound too far off the mark to me. If it were a 7 or an 8, I would have the blood drawn.
Follow up appointment after treating with supplemental iron rich foods sounds good to me....
It can't hurt her to give her lots of iron rich foods and iron. And isn't that what the end result of the blood draw be anyway?? If it WERE lower, you'd do the same things. Spare your child the trauma. Explain this nicely to your doc and ask him what foods he would recommend. That way he feels flattered and you both win : )

Re: 1 Yr check up. Need advice

My personal stance is that I would not do the blood draw, but would proceed as if my child were slightly anemic. So, feeding lots of iron rich foods, foods cooked in cast iron, etc. And vitamin C to help the iron be absorbed better. And maybe at the next appointment, you can request another finger stick to recheck.

I agree with this. Also keep in mind that iron from supplements interferes with iron absorption in breastmilk. And iron supplements go through the gut while iron in breastmilk goes through the blood (better). So always better to treat with food as a first option.

Re: 1 Yr check up. Need advice

We had a low iron count at 9 months. Request a follow up pin prick in a few weeks and do some diet changes. Blackstrap molasses worked for us. If iron is still really low after this then I would go with a blood draw.